The 2007 finalists Brazil qualified comfortably for this year’s Women’s World Cup by virtue of winning the 2022 Copa America without conceding a goal.
Although a South American powerhouse, they aren’t considered by bookies to be in the running for even a semi-final place at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Here we take a look at the Brazil squad, coached by Pia Sundhage, a former runner-up in 2011 with the United States, to see if the Canarinhas can spring a surprise.
Contents
Goalkeepers
- Barbara (Flamengo)
- Leticia Izidoro (Corinthians)
- Camila (Santos)
Defenders
- Tamires (Corinthians)
- Rafaelle (Arsenal)
- Mônica (Madrid CFF)
- Antônia (Levante)
- Kathellen (Real Madrid)
- Lauren (Madrid CFF)
- Bruninha (Gotham FC)
Midfielders
- Adriana (Orlando Pride)
- Kerolin (North Carolina Courage)
- Luana (Corinthians)
- Ary Borges (Racing Louisville)
- Ana Vitória (Benfica)
- Duda Sampaio (Corinthians)
Forwards
- Marta (Orlando Pride)
- Debinha (Kansas City Current)
- Bia Zaneratto (Palmeiras)
- Andressa Alves (Roma)
- Geyse Ferreira (Barcelona)
- Gabi Nunes (Madrid CFF)
- Nycole (Benfica)
Key Players
Although Brazil were defensively solid in the Copa America, it is the forward line that is most exciting heading into their opening match in Adelaide against Panama.
Marta
All-time World Cup top scorer Marta returns for her sixth and final Women's World Cup, the Orlando Pride striker has been a regular in the NWSL this year but hasn’t scored from open play for the national team since 2021. However, it is impossible to doubt the record-breaking Brazilian who has netted 115 international goals, putting her ninth all-time.
Debinha
Alongside the veteran striker is another experienced attacker playing in the NWSL with Kansas City Current’s 31-year-old Debinha, who netted five times during the Copa America and has played over 130 international games. While both Marta and Debinha will occupy defenders inside the penalty area, the Samba Stars also have two key threats, stretching defenders with their pace and movement.
Geyse Ferreira
Barcelona’s Geyse Ferreira was just an up-and-coming talent four years ago but is now an essential part of Sundhage’s setup. Ferreira’s speed and agility were important in Barcelona’s Champions League-winning campaign. She scored four goals and provided five assists in 11 starts.
Adriana
Supporting from midfield will be Adriana, who, like Marta, plays for Orlando Pride and, like Debinha, scored five times in the Copa America. The 26-year-old missed out on the last World Cup with a knee ligament injury but is raring to go for this year’s competition.
Luana
The least experienced picks from the Swedish coach are in central midfield, with Luana and Kerolin likely to form a partnership. The former, who plays for Corinthians, is 30 years old but has only 32 caps for the national team, while the latter, another NWSL import who plays for North Carolina Courage, is just 23 years old. Like the aforementioned Adriana, Kerolin missed out on the 2019 edition because she was serving a doping ban which had kept her off the field until 2021.
Rafaelle
At the back, we’ve seen that Arsenal’s Rafaelle has become a vital component of the national team. She captained the side at the Copa America, having missed out on the 2019 World Cup.
Tamires
Another player to watch is Corinthians’ veteran left-back Tamires, who started every game in the previous tournament. The 35-year-old will be used as an outlet to build attacks and can play higher up the pitch as she did in the Finalissima against England.
Women's World Cup fixtures
Brazil will play all their games in Australia, starting in South Australia before heading north to Queensland and then returning south to Victoria. They will rack up 1865 air miles in the first three matches alone.
- 24 July – Brazil vs Panama – Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
- 29 July – Brazil vs France – Lang Park, Brisbane
- 2 August – Brazil vs Jamaica – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Women's World Cup prediction
A mix of ageing stars and players approaching their prime is an interesting formula as Brazil aim to break the top four for the first time since 2007.
Should they finish second in the group and reach the final, they would play two consecutive games in Melbourne and then three in a row in Sydney – a very favourable travel route compared to most sides.
They have also avoided the USWNT and with possible quarter-final opponent England depleted by injury, there is a real chance the South Americans hit their target.
